Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TygrBright

(21,152 posts)
Sun Jun 15, 2025, 06:55 PM Sunday

The Importance of Yesterday's Protest Strategy

Last edited Sun Jun 15, 2025, 07:35 PM - Edit history (1)

There are a lot of reasons yesterday's "No Kings" protests were important - numbers, enthusiasm, focus, organization, etc.

But one aspect of the organization strategy that is somewhat underappreciated is geographic coverage.

Everyone expects protestors to turn out in the big (subtext "liberal", "left-wing", "Democratic" ) cities.

Fascist leadership feels free to ignore those, having gerrymandered and vote-denied and otherwise vitiated the impact of those numbers in affecting opinion overall.

But yesterday people gathered in hundreds of towns and communities in red states, in red counties, in "heartland" places that have been considered MAGA strongholds.

And the protestors made it clear - they're no longer strongholds. There will be no more complicit silence, no more going along to get along. Civilly, non-violently, resistance is watching and will speak and take action.

Of course, the current clown car fascist cadre is too stupid to see the implications, but the apparatchiks in the fascist oligarchy aren't going to miss them.

It will be interesting to see where this goes.

curiously,
Bright

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Silent Type

(10,029 posts)
2. Some of the reddest areas of my Southern home state had relatively large crowds. And the signs
Sun Jun 15, 2025, 06:59 PM
Sunday

will be viewed decades from now, like we look at 50s and 60s protests. Well unless the dictator erases them.

Wounded Bear

(62,195 posts)
3. I just hope it turns into long term action and VOTES!
Sun Jun 15, 2025, 07:15 PM
Sunday

Unless we turn out voters in those areas, it won't matter.

DinahMoeHum

(22,995 posts)
4. One other piece of brilliance deserves mention. . .
Sun Jun 15, 2025, 07:18 PM
Sunday

. . .the No Kings organizers deliberately chose NOT to include Washington DC as a place to gather for protest. They instructed protestors who lived in DC to go to MD, VA, or travel to Philadelphia for those events.

They wanted to isolate Trump's party/MAGAs from any interference or excuse so that people could plainly see how fucking unpopular he/they have become.

And it worked. Big time.

delisen

(7,047 posts)
6. Thanks for this analysis
Sun Jun 15, 2025, 07:37 PM
Sunday

I was already impressed by the Indivisible strategy and this adds to it.

paleotn

(20,492 posts)
8. A couple hundred protestors turned out in Newport VT.
Sun Jun 15, 2025, 08:19 PM
Sunday

For those not familiar with the Green Mountain state, that's "the northeast kingdom." One of the few ugly, red blotches on an otherwise very blue state. And there's only about 4K people in the whole "city." Not a bad turnout in our version of Trumplandia.

I completely agree. The geographic breadth of this protest under valued. Small turnout compared to Montpelier, Burlington, Bratt., etc. in absolute numbers., but Newport? That's really saying something.

LaMouffette

(2,508 posts)
9. My thoughts exactly! Thanks for posting this. Republicans in Congress are, above all else, self-serving.
Sun Jun 15, 2025, 08:30 PM
Sunday

The ONLY thing they care about is getting reelected. Because of the millions of people who showed up for the No Kings protests across the nation and even in the red states, the Repubs are, without a doubt, doing some serious calculations right now: "Is the MAGA craze over, or at least, not enough MAGAs still out there to get me reelected? Should I bail right now and pretend I was against Trump all along, or say that I was WITH Trump then, but Trump has "changed"? Yeah, that's a good one! But then again, should I stick with Trump because if I go against him, Musk will finance a Trump loyalist to run against me and/or I could be challenged by a 'moderate' Republican' going after Republican voters who have turned against Trump?"

It is delightful to see them in this predicament!

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The Importance of Yesterd...